Switch



Aug. 13, 1940. L. E. FISHER ET AL SWITCH Filed Nov. 29, 193'? T/Z/PPED INVENTORS Patented Aug. 13, 1940 PATENT OFF! 1i SWITCH Lawrence E. Fisher and William H. Frank, Detroit, Mich.

Application November 29, 1937, Serial No. 176,958

2 Claims.

This application discloses a circuit protective and circuit controlled switch.

For an understanding of the switch hereof, reference should be had to the appended drawing. In the drawing,

Figs. 1 to 3 disclose a switch having a circuit protective thermal release latch, the switch being shown in on, ofi, and tripped positions,

respectively.

In Figs. 1 to 3 there is disclosed a switch comprising a casing 60 having line and load contacts 6| adapted to be bridged by a bridging contact 82 disposed within a housing 63 formed with a slide 64 which fits between the contacts 65 and is formed with a socket 65 containing a compression spring 66 tending to separate the housing from the base mounting the contacts St. A bimetal element 61 connected at one end to one of the contacts GI and at the other by a flexible lead 68 to a suitable binding post forms a latch for a bar 59 pivotally connected to the housing 63 at the pivot '10 and pivotally connected by the pin and slot connection ll to a handle 12 journalled in the casing at 13 and projecting through a casing slot 14.

The operation of this form of switch is as follows. When the parts are in the condition of Fig. 1 the circuit is established between the binding posts and the parts are held immobile by the spring action because one end of the bar 69 is latched by the thermal latch 61 and the other end by. the handle 12, which engages the end of slot 14. If the handle be rotated clockwise to the position of Fig. 2, the bar 59 will rotate counterclockwise about the thermal latch as, a pivot due to the action of the spring 66, to cause separation of contact 62 from the contacts GI and the parts will come to rest in the position ,of Fig. 2 because f the engagement of the handle with an end of the slot 14.

0n overload the latch 61 will warp to the left permitting movement of the parts from the position of Fig. 1 to the position of Fig, 3 by the spring 66. For reset handle 12 may be moved from the position of Fig. 3 to that of Fig. 2 to lower the latch end of the bar 69 and hook it under the latch against the action of spring 66,

the latter again tending tomaintain the parts.

a spring for moving theblock and rocker arm when either end of the latter is released, movement of either member releasing one end of the rocker arm so that the other end thereof, connected to the unmoved member, may remain anchored by its connection thereto during such movement, the parts being so arranged that when the control member is holding the rocker arm, the movement of the handle in one direction permits the spring to cause movement of the block and arm for circuit opening, and that movement of the handle in another direction causes movement of the block and arm, in opposition to the spring, for circuit closing, and also being so arranged that when the control member is not holding the rocker arm, movement of the handle in the direction in which it is moved for circuit opening will cause movement of the arm for reanchoring the arm to the control member, and further being so arranged, that when the control member releases the arm, in response to a circuit abnormalitmthe arm and block will be moved by the spring to open the circuit and also the handle will move out of its then on position.

2. A circuit interrupter comprising a handle member, a slldable contact block, a rocker arm extending generally transverse to the direction of sliding thereof and pivotally connected, between its ends, to the block, and a circuit current responsive control member, the members being longitudinally spaced and arranged with the block between them, and arranged at and connected to opposite ends of the rocker arm, a spring for moving the block and rocker arm when either end of the latter is released, movement of either member releasing one end of the rocker arm so that the other end thereof, connected to the unmoved member, may remain anchored by its connection thereto during such movement, the parts being so arranged that when the control member is holding the rocker arm, movement of the handle in one direction permits the spring to cause movement of the block and arm for circuit opening, and that movement of the handle in an-;

other direction, causes movement of the block and arm, in opposition to the spring for circuit closing, and also being so arranged that when the contrdhmember releases the rocker arm, in response to a circuit abnormality, the'arm and block will be moved by the spring to open the circuit and also the handle will move out of its then on" position, the parts also being so arranged that reanchoring of the arm and control member relatively following a release of the arm by the control member in response to a circuit abnormality will occur simultaneously with movement of the handle into circuit open off position. LAWRENCE E. FISHER WILLIAM H. FRANK. 

